August 21, 2012
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SERIES REVIEW: Avatar the Last Airbender (2005-2008)
61 Episodes
GENRE: American Comedy-Martial Arts Anime
SUMMARY: It has been a 100 years since the Fire Kingdom declared war on the lands of Water, Earth, and Air throwing the balance of the world off. It was the job of the Avatar, master of all four elements, to keep the world in harmony, but in the people's time of greatest need, he mysteriously vanished. Now water tribe members Sokka and Katara believe they may have found the new Avatar and must do everything within their power to aid him in returning stability to their lands.
REVIEW: I think this may be the best American cartoon series I've ever watched. This was the second time I watched it and it was still super enjoyable. The art is pretty decent (better than most cheap American shows), but not amazing. The real stars of the show are the writing and characters. The themes feel relevant and compelling while the characters are engaging. The story pacing is awesome (opposite of Naruto) and each episode feels like it either moves the plot forward or tells the audience something more about the characters and back-story.
One of my favorite parts that is so carefully done in the series is both personal and overall progression. It happens so smoothly that it is hardly noticed which is what makes it so amazing. For example, Katara is a water bender (water mage) who at the start of show can barely do anything with her skills but progresses to increasingly more advanced levels during fights. It isn't like she learns the "kamaya maya" move and now dominates everyone. you just notice her use a few moves you hadn't seen her use before and a few episodes down the line she uses a few more as if the writers are saying "by the way she's training while you aren't watching her". The technology of nations advances as well without becoming a central theme (though it is pointed out every now and then). It makes it seem like all this stuff is going on beyond the audiences viewing moments. It helps an already extremely well crafted world seem even deeper.
The show also has one of my all-time favorite cartoon characters in it: Sokka. Granted I laugh really easy, but his sense of super-cheesy jokes had me legitimately laughing out-loud all through the series. Apparently the guy who voiced him, Jack DeSena, did such an awesome job improvising that they expanded his role and let him have more free reign with his jokes. Great great show with an epic feel, in-depth philosophy and world, and amazing characters. It is for sure a kid's show though so don't expect 18+ anime. Enjoy.
ART: 7/10
STORYTELLING & PLOT:9/10
CHARACTERS: 10/10 (Sokka makes it for me)
OVERALL: 9/10BONUS ROUND! Just finished season 1 of "Legend of Korra". Two thumbs up! It is way more bleak and serious. While the first Avatar was a spiritual journey through a late-19th century empire, the Legend of Korra takes place two generations later in Republic city, a booming capital city with the glory and pitfalls of a 1920s to 1940s industrial-era world capital. It is so awesome the way they are trying to address themes of power, technology, and spirituality with this Shanghai/New York mega-metropolis . The first season is about the tension created between powerful benders and regular humans gaining their own power by the ever increasing technological world. Pretty cool. Can't wait for the other 3 seasons. The character they attempt to replace Sokka with isn't near as good, but I'm not sure Sokka would as easily find a place in this new darker world.